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Commentary
When conservation science puts a price on an elephant’s death
By Adam Cruise - Daily Maverick The renewed Madikwe elephant controversy raises a question extending far beyond culling. When a senior SANParks scientist speaks of economic opportunities arising from elephants selected for killing, we need to examine the philosophy of conservation behind the statement. There was a revealing moment before Parliament this week when the increasingly controversial management of elephants in Madikwe and Pilanesberg moved beyond ecology. SANParks large-mammal specialist Sam Ferreira was explaining the scientific modelling behind proposals for managing the elephant...
North West MEC snubs Parliament again as elephant ‘removal’ plan advances without oversight
By Don Pinnock - Daily Maverick The North West MEC stayed away, key reports remained hidden and MPs were given no costs or deadlines for a plan that could result in nearly 1,000 elephants being culled in Madikwe. What is the province trying to hide? North West clearly doesn’t want Parliament to interfere with its controversial elephant management plan, which includes the possibility of mass culling. The best way appears to be to ensure that, when requested by the parliamentary environment committee, North West’s MEC for economic development, environment, conservation and tourism Bitsa...
News
The last three elephants still in South African zoo await a new fate
By The Star The last three elephants still in a traditional South African zoo entered their enclosure in single file, fruit and vegetables scattered on the ground to encourage natural foraging. For...
Vietnam discovers more than a tonne of concealed ivory illegally shipped from Africa
By Gavin Blackburn - Euro News Most trade in ivory from elephants and other endangered animals is banned by international agreement under CITES, a treaty to which almost all UN member countries are...
World Elephant Day: How these giants are adapting to a changing world
By David Brown - Mongabay August 12 is World Elephant Day. To celebrate, Mongabay looks back at recent stories about how the future success of these mammals depends on healthy, connected habitats....
Press releases
Over half of international tourists would question visiting South Africa if elephant culling is reinstated, new survey finds
By Humane World for Animals Humane World for Animals South Africa warns elephant culling could damage South Africa’s tourism appeal and conservation reputation CAPE TOWN, South Africa—Over half (60%) of international tourists would consider visiting a different country instead if elephant culling...
Studies
Elephant barrier behaviours in response to conflict mitigation fences
By Dominique Gonçalves, Robert J. Smith, Helen M. K. O'Neill - The Society for...
Impacts of Human Development on Wildlife Use of Corridors in Botswana
By Tempe S. F. Adams, Keith Leggett, Michael J. Chase, Marlee A. Tucker -...
Energy flows reveal declining ecosystem functions by animals across Africa
By Ty Loft et al - Nature Abstract A key challenge for ecological science is...
Reports
Scientific Review of Botswana’s Elephant Hunting Programme
By Mike Chase and Scott Schlossberg - Elephants Without Borders (EWB) Summary 1. In 2019, Botswana ended a five-year moratorium on the hunting of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana). Here, we provide expert, outside review of the hunting programme and its scientific basis. Notably, we...
About
The Journal of African Elephants was created by a group of concerned journalists, biologists and conservationists, who, after years of tracking and documenting the catastrophic decline of Africa’s elephant populations, have recognised the urgent need for a dedicated English and French news and commentary space to enhance and increase global awareness of the plight of Africa’s savanna and forest elephants. Our Commentary service, in particular, are writers that focus on the need to provide awareness of Africa’s elephants and affected surrounding human communities from a distinctly African perspective that, for the most part, is lacking in the dominance of Western media.